Passenger numbers doubled in boat maker error

Authorities are scrambling to contact new boat owners heading out onto the water after a dangerous manufacturing error was discovered.

AUTHORITIES are urgently scrambling to contact new boat owners after a dangerous manufacturing error was discovered.

Maritime Safety Queensland has launched the recall, as it seeks to contact more than 40 new boat owners about a safety oversight which could put passengers at risk.

Officers discovered the boats, sold by Brisbane company Scariff Boats, had the wrong information on the Australian Builders Plate (ABP) about the number of passengers they could safely carry, or was missing the information entirely.

Boaties should be aware of the recent recall launched by Maritime Safety Queensland. Pic: Humpbacks and High-rises.

The alarm was raised during a random inspection of the new imported boats at a major boat show earlier this year.

The plates, which are required by law to be attached to vessels, in some cases allowed for more than twice the normal maximum loading weight for boats of that size.

“This could easily give owners the wrong impression they were able to carry considerably more people on board than was safely allowed with potentially disastrous consequences,” Maritime Safety Queensland Acting General Manager Capt Glenn Hale said.

“Maritime Safety Queensland has entered into a formal undertaking with Scariff Boats requiring them to make every effort to contact the boat owners and let them know their builder’s plates are incorrect and must be changed.

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“This is an extremely serious oversight and Maritime Safety Queensland has made it clear to the company failure to correct this issue could lead to legal action.

“They will also require Scariff Boats to implement a quality assurance system to ensure all current and future imported boats offered for sale comply with the ABP requirements.”

Anyone owning a Scariff boat should get in touch with the company to arrange a review of their boat and its ABP.

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Maritime Safety Queensland is also undertaking a wider review of vessel manufacturers and sellers to ensure no similar breaches have occurred.

“This is also a timely reminder to all boaties to know your loading limits, how many people and how much equipment, eskies and tackle boxes your boat can carry.

“If you modify your boat, you may inadvertently have changed it enough to require your ABP to be reviewed.”

Anyone with concerns about a Scariff boat should contact the company at [e-mail] or call 0410 651 000 or 07 3556 3480.